Griffon Vulture vs Red-headed Vulture
Gyps fulvus compared with Sarcogyps calvus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Griffon Vulture | Red-headed Vulture |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Gyps fulvus | Sarcogyps calvus |
| Order | Accipitriformes | Accipitriformes |
| Family | Accipitridae | Accipitridae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Critically Endangered |
| Length | 100.0 cm (39.4 in) | — |
| Wingspan | 260.0 cm (102.4 in) | 114.0 cm (44.9 in) |
| Weight | 8500.0 g (299.83 oz) | 4500.0 g (158.73 oz) |
| Diet | Exclusively carrion, primarily large mammal carcasses. Feeds communally, with groups of vultures able to strip … | -- |
| Clutch Size | 1 | 1 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
None
Griffon Vulture only
Red-headed Vulture only
Griffon Vulture
Mountains, cliffs, and open grasslands. Nests on cliff ledges in colonies. Requires thermals for soaring flight.
Song & Call Comparison
Griffon Vulture
Generally silent; hisses and grunts at carrion with other vultures. Gives low croaking 'arrr' near nest. At colonies produces cackling and grunting — not melodic vocalizations.
Red-headed Vulture
Geographic Range & Migration
Griffon Vulture
Southern Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia. Resident in most of its range.
Red-headed Vulture
Conservation Status
Griffon Vulture
Red-headed Vulture
How to Tell Them Apart
Griffon Vulture
Tawny-brown body with darker flight feathers. White neck ruff and bare greyish head. Long broad wings held flat when soaring.
Hooked yellowish bill adapted for tearing carrion
Red-headed Vulture
About These Birds
Griffon Vulture
The griffon vulture is one of Europe's largest flying birds and a crucial scavenger in Mediterranean ecosystems. These social birds nest in large cliff colonies and can soar for hours using thermals without flapping. Vulture populations faced a crisis from the veterinary drug diclofenac, which proved fatal when consumed through contaminated carcasses.